Polyelectrolyte Complex Coacervate Adhesive for Wearable Medical Devices

Wearable electronics are becoming increasingly popular for personalized healthcare. These devices often use hydrophobic, pressure-sensitive adhesives to adhere to various parts of the body. With prolonged skin contact, commercial adhesives have been shown to cause allergic contact dermatitis as well as significant loss of adhesive strength when exposed to moisture and ionic compounds, such as sweat. To address these common issues, the development of a polyelectrolyte-based skin adhesive for wearable devices is underway. Here, it is demonstrated how coacervation is induced with a system composed of polyethylenimine (PEI) and sodium hexametaphosphate (PSP) as the counter polyelectrolyte. The coacervate is deposited onto a polyurethane film to form an effective adhesive that is mechanically comparable to a commercially available one, offering a promising alternative for wearable devices.